Girlfriend of gang leader is jailed for 21 days over murder cover-up attempt

The girlfriend of gang leader Lee Calvert at the time he murdered dad-of-three Barry Selby, Natasha Wall, was jailed for 21 days for lying to the police and disposing of her phone after the crime.

Wall, 24, of Stirling Crescent, Holme Wood, Bradford, sat quietly in the dock at Bradford Crown Court as Mr Justice Globe told her: “The prosecution of serious crime is hampered by the actions of people such as you who are prepared to lie and act in the way that you did in the circumstances.”

Wall, who had her hair up in a ponytail, wore a smart black jacket, white shirt and gold necklace for yesterday morning’s sentencing hearing.

She was originally charged with perverting the course of public justice but pleaded guilty part-way through the trial to the less serious offence of conspiracy to obstruct the police.

Wall’s barrister, Kama Melly, said the shop assistant had been in line for promotion but had lost her job because of depression, stress and anxiety.

She was of previous good character and had always worked after leaving school.

“She had a number of competing pressures on her,” said Miss Melly, urging the judge not to impose an immediate prison sentence.

Simon Myerson QC, for the Crown, said Wall was “enormously affected” by the distressing evidence given in court by Barry Selby’s wife, Donna.

After listening to that, she was offered the chance to admit the obstruction offence and pleaded guilty to it at the first opportunity.

Mr Justice Globe said Wall gave Calvert a false alibi and text messages from her missing phone were lost forever to the police investigation team.

“The police made you well aware of the nature of their enquiry at a time when Barry Selby was fighting for his life with his family at his bedside,” he said.

Wall did not have the courage to plead guilty to the original offence and what she had admitted to “was no ordinary obstruction of a police constable.”

“You frustrated the police and the content of any text message was lost. The production of your phone may have made a difference,” the judge added.

Wall’s family looked shocked and dismayed as she was led away to the cells.